A little help with US civics?!?!?

I was doing some homework and well these 2 questions I'm stuck on cause it doesn't really give details about these questions in the book ;(

please help


When people enter into a contract, they agree to do something in exchange for something else. Explain how the citizens of the United States have entered into a kind of contract with their nation.




The Fifth Amendment guarantees the right to
eminent domain.
a fair trial.
bear arms.
receive a public education.

the people of the US have entered into a contract with their nation by agreeing to abide by their laws. the consequences of not doing so are levied by courts and juries.

here is the text of the fifth amendment. figure it out.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

the concept of "contract" between citizens and their government derives from John Locke's concept of a social contract under which, where government is selected by and purports to be representative of the people, those who consent to be so governed have "contracted" to relinquish some autonomy for the benefit of the greater whole in exchange for the security and protection that is gained by living in a civilized and representative society.

The contract issue is unresolvable the way you asked it. Citizens normally don't contract with the government. We are granted protections and entitlements from statute.

The 5th ammendment is about an idividual and the courts, therefore, it's a fair trial, by jury.

There is no right to public education written into the constitution.

The idea of a contract is that it is voluntary and generally seen as being mutually beneficial. I have something that you want, and you have something that I want, so we enter into a contract in order to each get what we desire.

With a person contracting with a government the concept is very similar. What I want is security, because living out in the wilderness, and being required to protect myself and my property is very dangerous. Therefore, for my part of the contract, the government takes responsibility for my safety and the protection of my property. If a foreign nation comes to attack, or a stalker threatens my life, the government will help me.

For the government's side, what they desire is order. Therefore, in exchange for my security, I agree to follow the laws that the government passes, and this includes giving up my right to take the law into my own hands. If someone takes my property, I am not allowed to go and assault them to get it back, instead I call the police. If that happened outside of the setting of a government, however, I would be free to take any measure to get my property back, including murder. The contract between the people and their government prevents this, however.

So, contracts are give and take, I agree to follow the laws, while the government agrees to take responsibility for my security.


As for the 5th Amendment, I recommend reading the text, which you can find anywhere on the internet. That said, it guarantees the right to a fair trial. However, there is also mention of eminent domain, which may be confusing. This is the amendment that says, "private property may not be taken for public use without just compensation." This is the principle of eminent domain. However, I don't think this would be considered the answer, since eminent domain is not a right of the people, but of the government, and many would argue it has been overused in a way that damages the rights of private property owners.

Hope this helps.